By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has threatened to sue the Federal Government on the controversial legal services agreement between the United Kingdom and Nigeria if the request for information on the details and negotiations with relevant stakeholders are not provided to it after seven days of the request.
In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investments, LEDAP requested for information within seven days on the details and preceding negotiations with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Bar Association and the General Council of the Bar.
In a document made available to the press LEDAP asserted that it would “on receipt of the details of the agreement review it, and determine if the contents and purpose are not contrary to the Legal Practitioners’ Act which regulates law practice in Nigeria. It will also see if it offends the World Trade Organization rule pertaining to domestic work places.”
LEDAP further stated that it “joins the NBA in seeking to protect Nigerian laws and interest of the local legal practitioners. Undoubtedly, opening the legal practice to foreign lawyers will hurt the legal employment market, as Nigerian lawyers would not be equipped to compete with their invading UK counterparts.”
LEDAP warned that “if after Seven (7 ) days of the request the information sought are not obtained, it will proceed to court to compel compliance with the request,” adding that “Under the FOI Act, the requested information is not exempted from disclosure.”